Ex-banker in fireball horror

A RETIRED senior banker was fighting for his life today after being engulfed in flames in a gardening accident. Eric Fairweather, 64, was using methylated spirits to burn the roots of a bush when the accident happened at his home in Lostock, Bolton.

A RETIRED senior banker was fighting for his life today after being engulfed in flames in a gardening accident.

Eric Fairweather, 64, was using methylated spirits to burn the roots of a bush when the accident happened at his home in Lostock, Bolton.

It is believed that due to the hot weather, the solution vaporised as he poured it, covering his clothes with an invisible layer.

As he lit the roots after cutting the bush back, the flames spread and set him alight. He suffered 30 per cent burns to his face, chest and legs.

Mr Fairweather's wife Deborah was also burned as she frantically tried to help him. Their two teenage sons also raced to their father's side and wrapped him in blankets until fire crews from Horwich and Bolton arrived.

'Critical'

At the family home today in The Hamlet, an exclusive development, Mrs Fairweather said her husband was 'in a critical condition'. Both her hands were in bandages due to the injuries she suffered and she was too upset to talk about the accident.

Mr Fairweather worked for the Co-op bank before retirement and now does consultancy work. He is also a parent governor at the nearby Bolton School where his two sons are pupils.

School clerk and treasurer Simon Marsden said: "Mr Fairweather is very highly respected and has supported the boys' division for a number of years, stewarding and organising parents' evenings.

"He was elected as parent governor last spring - a position of some responsibility. We wish him a full and speedy recovery."

The accident happened at 11.20am yesterday.

Warning

A fire brigade spokesman said: "When we arrived we applied specialist cold gel burns dressings to both Mr Fairweather and his wife until they were taken to hospital by paramedics."

Neighbours said Mr Fairweather had been able to walk to the ambulance. However, it is understood he lost consciousness by the time he arrived at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

He was later transferred to the specialist burns unit at Wythenshawe Hospital where he is being treated in the intensive care unit.

The fire service spokesman spoke about the dangers of using accelerants such as petrol and spirits to start fires.

He said: "The advice really is just not to use them. They can be lethal. When the weather is very hot like it was yesterday there's always a chance that something like this will happen.

"Meths is very volatile and can vaporise very easily in hot weather.

"People light barbecues and do lots of work in the garden. This was a horrific accident that could have been avoided."